RACISM reared its ugly head in football again this week, after footage appeared on the internet of West Ham fans allegedly chanting anti-semitic abuse at Tottenham fans.

Despite the ongoing Kick Racism Out of Football campaign, it is not the first time racial abuse has been a high-profile issue during this season’s Premiership campaign.

Meanwhile, Welsh football has had its own battle to fight, with the FAW confirming this week that Porthmadog’s appeal against a three-point deduction for a racism charge will be heard on Friday, March 30.

Port’s Premier Cup ambitions for next season have been hit by the deduction, while the club was also fined £13,200 – all but £1,000 of which was suspended.

But in the light of the weekend’s events in London, Porthmadog’s situation bears comparison with that of West Ham, who, so far, have not been issued with the threat of an FA charge.

At Porthmadog’s game against Cwmbran Town at Y Traeth on December 9 last year, one home fan allegedly directed a racial insult at linesman Gary Ismail. The supporter later apologised for the remark, was banned by the club for the rest of the season and was reportedly even told by other fans to keep quiet.

Meanwhile, a video posted on the YouTube website after West Ham’s 4-3 Upton Park defeat to Tottenham on Sunday showed Hammers fans chanting racial abuse in what police described as an “orchestrated act” of anti-semitism.

The London club have said any supporter identified in the video will be banned from Upton Park for life, while the FA said it hoped police would issue the perpetrators with banning orders.

Prompt action, it would seem, was taken in both cases by the clubs – but is it likely that the Hammers will be docked three points for the actions of their supporters?

Similarly, if Newcastle’s Emre is found guilty by the FA of racial abuse against Everton players at his hearing on March 19, will Toon’s faint hopes of qualifying for next season’s Uefa Cup be hit by being a points deduction? Unlikely – and yet, of the three scenarios, surely the Traeth incident appears to pose the least threat to racial equality within sport.

Welsh Premier League chairman Alun Evans has already written to the FAW detailing his support for Porthmadog’s case, while league secretary John Deakin is also privately supportive. Furthermore, an online petition has collected nearly 800 signatures in protest at the club’s treatment.

Port’s joint-manager Osian Roberts hopes “common sense will prevail” at the hearing in three weeks’ time.

He said: “Judging by what happens, not only in England but also around Europe in how they deal with this sort of incident, there can only be one verdict in the sense that this is so inconsistent with what happens in other national associations.

“We’re as supportive as anybody to ensure racism has no place in the game,” he added.